Supporting Classroom Supporting Classroom Interaction with Networked Interaction with Networked

Tablet PCsTablet PCs

Richard AndersonRichard Anderson

Professor of Computer Science and Professor of Computer Science and EngineeringEngineering

University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington

Today’s talkToday’s talk

Big question: what is the potential for fully Big question: what is the potential for fully integrating student devices into the integrating student devices into the classroom?classroom?

Classroom Presenter overviewClassroom Presenter overview

Pedagogy Pedagogy

Impact and IssuesImpact and Issues

What will the classroom look What will the classroom look like … like …

If all students have computational devicesIf all students have computational devices– Laptops, Tablets, Ultra light tablets, PDAs, Cell Laptops, Tablets, Ultra light tablets, PDAs, Cell

Phones, Gameboys . . .Phones, Gameboys . . .

If the devices are all connectedIf the devices are all connected

If the devices are integrated into classroom If the devices are integrated into classroom instructioninstruction

Wide range of potential Wide range of potential classroom applicationsclassroom applications

PresentationPresentation

DemonstrationDemonstration

SimulationSimulation

Accessing external Accessing external resourcesresources

Note takingNote taking

FeedbackFeedback

Active learningActive learning

Peer communicationPeer communication

Device Enabled ClassroomDevice Enabled Classroom

Can the integrated use of student devices in Can the integrated use of student devices in the classroom enhance the educational the classroom enhance the educational experience?experience?

What have we learned from the Classroom What have we learned from the Classroom Presenter project that will help us understand Presenter project that will help us understand the broad question?the broad question?

Why ask the questionsWhy ask the questions

Integrated use of devices in the classroom Integrated use of devices in the classroom mightmight improve education or address a improve education or address a collection of challengescollection of challenges

Students are going to be bringing Students are going to be bringing computational devices to class – so lets computational devices to class – so lets figure out how to take advantage of themfigure out how to take advantage of them– ““Co-opt student devices for an educational Co-opt student devices for an educational

purpose”, S. Wolfmanpurpose”, S. Wolfman

Classroom PresenterClassroom PresenterDistributed, Tablet PC based applicationDistributed, Tablet PC based application– Instructor, Display, and Student machinesInstructor, Display, and Student machines

Synchronized navigation of slide deckSynchronized navigation of slide deckInstructor ink distributed in real time to all Instructor ink distributed in real time to all machinesmachinesStudent SubmissionsStudent Submissions– Slides used to distribute activities to studentsSlides used to distribute activities to students– Student work sent to instructorStudent work sent to instructor– Instructor shows student work on the public Instructor shows student work on the public

displaydisplay

Classroom PresenterClassroom PresenterStudentStudent

StudentStudent

InstructorInstructor

Public Public DisplayDisplay

Classroom Presenter ProjectClassroom Presenter Project

Develop underlying technology around Develop underlying technology around Tablet PC and wireless classroomTablet PC and wireless classroom

Deploy in university coursesDeploy in university courses

Key limitations (wrt broad vision):Key limitations (wrt broad vision):– Focus on instructor presentation and interaction Focus on instructor presentation and interaction

with student deviceswith student devices– Focus on homogenous device deployment, Focus on homogenous device deployment,

Tablet PCsTablet PCs– Non sustainable device modelNon sustainable device model

Department owned tablets distributed at start of each Department owned tablets distributed at start of each class each classclass each class

Key resultsKey resultsSuccessful classroom deploymentsSuccessful classroom deployments– Regular use throughout termRegular use throughout term– Deployment in University CoursesDeployment in University Courses

Algorithms, Data Structures, Software Engineering, Algorithms, Data Structures, Software Engineering, Digital Design, Environmental ScienceDigital Design, Environmental Science

– Analysis of deploymentsAnalysis of deployments

Effective tool for achieving instructors’ Effective tool for achieving instructors’ pedagogical goalspedagogical goals– Wide range of useWide range of use

Sample deployment detailsSample deployment detailsSenior level algorithms classSenior level algorithms class

Approx 30 studentsApprox 30 students

Classroom set of HP TC1100 Tablet PCsClassroom set of HP TC1100 Tablet PCs

Two students per tabletTwo students per tablet

One tablet based lecture per week One tablet based lecture per week

Lecture – Activity modelLecture – Activity model– Alternating lecturing with activitiesAlternating lecturing with activities– Avg. 4 activities per lecture (50 min. classes)Avg. 4 activities per lecture (50 min. classes)– 4 min work time, 2 min discussion time per activity4 min work time, 2 min discussion time per activity– 50% of class time associated with activities50% of class time associated with activities

Activity ExamplesActivity Examples

Pedagogical ContributionPedagogical ContributionIncorporation of individual artifacts into discussionIncorporation of individual artifacts into discussion– Contrast with Classroom Networks (“clickers”) which Contrast with Classroom Networks (“clickers”) which

rely on aggregation of responsesrely on aggregation of responses– Complementary approachesComplementary approaches

Individual artifactsIndividual artifacts– Free form answers, explorationFree form answers, exploration– Unanticipated results and misconceptionsUnanticipated results and misconceptions– PersonalizationPersonalization– Ideal with pen based inputIdeal with pen based input

Individual ArtifactsIndividual Artifacts

What technology providesWhat technology providesDigital domainDigital domain– Support for archiving, distribution, and analysisSupport for archiving, distribution, and analysis

Integration with lectureIntegration with lecture– Allows display with data projectorAllows display with data projector

Efficiency Efficiency – Reducing overhead of distribution and collectionReducing overhead of distribution and collection

SimultaneitySimultaneity– All students work at once to increase contribution ratesAll students work at once to increase contribution rates

Additional communication channelsAdditional communication channels– Easier to express certain ideasEasier to express certain ideas– Overcomes communication barriersOvercomes communication barriers

InclusionInclusion

Instructional goalsInstructional goals

What are the costs?What are the costs?

Infrastructure Infrastructure – Wireless + Data ProjectorWireless + Data Projector

Instructor presentation deviceInstructor presentation device

Student devicesStudent devices– Mandated student devicesMandated student devices– Non-mandated devicesNon-mandated devices

LaptopLaptop

Small form factorSmall form factor

– Fixed installationFixed installation

What are the other costs?What are the other costs?Instructor preparationInstructor preparationLoss of content coverageLoss of content coverageStudent idle timeStudent idle timeBringing devices to classBringing devices to class– PowerPower– Carrying deviceCarrying device

Desk real estateDesk real estateDistractionDistraction– DoodlingDoodling– Outside communicationOutside communication

Assessment of Costs and Assessment of Costs and BenefitsBenefits

BenefitsBenefits– Classroom FeedbackClassroom Feedback

Identified lack of Identified lack of backgroundbackgroundConfirmed understanding Confirmed understanding of topicof topic

– PedagogyPedagogyActive learning to convey Active learning to convey particular pointsparticular points

– EngagementEngagementWorking on problem Working on problem instances to enhance instances to enhance interestinterest

– Broad contributionsBroad contributions– Student perceptionsStudent perceptions– Class structureClass structure

CostsCosts– Instructor DeviceInstructor Device

Low (already in use)Low (already in use)– InfrastructureInfrastructure

Low (already available)Low (already available)– Student DevicesStudent Devices

Grant supported (High)Grant supported (High)– Instructor PrepInstructor Prep

High (but should drop)High (but should drop)– Loss of contentLoss of content

MinorMinor– Idle timeIdle time

MinorMinor– Devices in classDevices in class

Setup cost for TA/InstrSetup cost for TA/Instr– Doodling and other appsDoodling and other apps

MediumMedium

Successful sustainable Successful sustainable deploymentdeployment

Benefits must exceed costsBenefits must exceed costs

Benefits must accrue to those who pay the Benefits must accrue to those who pay the costscosts

Most promising deployment modelMost promising deployment model– Student owned devicesStudent owned devices

Achieving sustainabilityAchieving sustainability

Lowering costLowering cost– Support a wide range of form factors, devices Support a wide range of form factors, devices

and platformsand platforms– Target devices students would otherwise have Target devices students would otherwise have

with themwith them

Increasing benefit to studentsIncreasing benefit to students– Other classroom applicationsOther classroom applications– Value of having class resources digitalValue of having class resources digital

Classroom ApplicationsClassroom Applications

Note takingNote taking

Digital Capture and ReplayDigital Capture and Replay

Domain specific applicationsDomain specific applications– SimulationsSimulations

External resourcesExternal resources– WebWeb– DocumentsDocuments– CommunicationCommunication

My predictions for the device My predictions for the device enabled classroomenabled classroom

Tablets will have a major roleTablets will have a major roleForm factor and device cost is criticalForm factor and device cost is criticalMust include wide range of devices and Must include wide range of devices and platforms, including non-traditional platforms, including non-traditional computing devicescomputing devicesMust provide reliable, consistent Must provide reliable, consistent connectivityconnectivityLow cost of entry Low cost of entry Integration across classroom applicationsIntegration across classroom applications

CLASSROOM PRESENTERCLASSROOM PRESENTER

www.cs.washington.edu/education/dl/presenterwww.cs.washington.edu/education/dl/presenter

For more information, contactFor more information, contact Richard AndersonRichard Anderson anderson@cs.washington.eduanderson@cs.washington.edu